Chertoff to critics: Grow up
Tough border rules could mean longer lines
By EILEEN SULLIVAN and DEVLIN BARRETT/The Associated Press
January 17, 2008 - 11:55PM


G. Daniel López/The Brownsville Herald Unites States citizens may have another identification card to look for as they cross from Mexico into the United States of America. A national identification card, similar to a diver's licensee, solely for border crossing has been proposed.
Oral declarations of citizenship when re-entering the United States through land-crossing points will be a thing of the past within two weeks.

New regulations from the Department of Homeland Security that go into effect Jan. 31 will require a valid passport or both a government-issued photo identification and proof of citizenship when returning to the United States from Mexico.

In most cases, persons without passports must show both a driver’s license and a certified birth certificate.

Persons born outside the United States must show a government-issued ID card — such as a driver’s license — with a naturalization document, Felix Garza, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said.

Children under 18 will only be required to present proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

All existing non-immigrant visa and passport requirements will remain in effect and will not be altered by the new rule.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told The Associated Press on Thursday that new border crossing rules that will take effect this month are a necessity to prevent another Sept. 11-style attack.

Current policy allows U.S. citizens to re-enter the country by making a verbal declaration, Garza said.

“If people said they were American citizens, in most cases, unless we had reason to believe they weren’t, we allow re-entrance without asking for proof of citizenship,â€